Natalia Skogberg
Title: Head of the team, chief researcher
Tel. +358 29 524 7916
Email: [email protected]
Expertise
- Health and wellbeing of migrant origin populations and asylum seekers
- Equity during crises and exceptional situations
- Mainstreaming cultural diversity
Primary duties
- Head of the cultural diversity team (1st August 2024 onwards), chief researcher
- Member of THL's Expert Group for Cultural Diversity (MONET)
Education
- 2024–, Specialist Qualification in Management and Business Management, Omnia
- 2024, Adjunct professor in Public Health (title of Docent), University of Helsinki
- 2023, SPARK Resilience Programme facilitator, Positran
- 2022–, Master in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology (MAPPCP), University of East London
- 2022, Conflict resolution training, Attias Consulting
- 2019, PhD in Public Health, University of Helsinki
- 2018, Further Qualification in First-line Management, Omnia
- 2010, Master in Health Sciences, Gerontology and Public Health, University of Jyväskylä
- 2008, Bachelor in Social Work (geronome), Arcada University of Applied Sciences
Work experience
- 8/2024–, Head of the cultural diversity team, THL
- 6/2024–, chief researcher, THL
- 2020–6/2024, Research manger, THL
- 2017–2019, Project manager, THL
- 2014–2017, Researcher, THL
- 2014–2017, PhD researcher, Doctoral Programme in Population Health (DocPop), University of Helsinki
- 2010–2012, Research coordinator, THL
Languages
- Russian (native)
- Finnish (excellent)
- English (excellent)
Ongoing projects
- Agency - services that promote equity, antidiscrimination and participation
- EU Joint Action for Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI)
- EU Joint Action on Prevention of Non-communible disease (JAPreventNCD)
Previous projects
- Coping of persons with disabilities and persons of migrant origin in exceptional and crisis situations – Building the future based on experiences during Covid-19 (Building the Future)
- Impact of coronavirus epidemic on wellbeing among foreign born population (MigCOVID)
- Developing the health examination protocol for newly-arrived asylum seekers in Finland: a national development project (TERTTU)
- Cost Action: International Ethnic and Immigrant Minorities' Survey Data Network
- Professionalisation of Guardianship in Europe (ProGuard)
- Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (Maamu)
Current Positions of Trust
- 2023–, Acting vice president, European Public Health Association, Migrant and Ethnic Minority Health Section
- 2022–, Finnish Society for Social Medicine, vice chair of the board
- 2022–, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, national steering committee for the functional everyday life for migrants
- 1/2022–3/2023, National focal point for Finland: WHO European Programme of Work 2020-2025 United Action for Better Health in Europe, Behavioural and cultural insights
- 2021–, city of Helsinki, Being a Parent in Finland pilot, steering committee
- 2020–2023, steering committee participation in national projects: Invisible Power Resource, The Central Organization of Russian-Speaking People in Finland; Joy from Food Project, Finnish Heart Association and Ruukku ry; Let's Encourage! Project, Vantaa Russian Club, Saha Association, East Vantaa Somali Cultural Association, and Hakunila International Association.
- 4/2018–4/2023, Filoksenia ry, member of the board
- 2018–2021, International Ethnic and Immigrant Minorities' Survey Data Network (COST Action)
- 2017–2021, Statistics Finland, collaborative group for migration statistics
Publications
Dissertation
- Skogberg, Natalia (2019). Cardiovascular risk factors among Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin populations in Finland. Helsinki: Unigrafia, Doctoral programme in population health publication series.
Key recent scientific publications
- Nykänen S, García-Velázquez R, E Castaneda A, Koponen P, Musta L, Skogberg N. Psychosocial and economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic by sex among migrant populations compared with general Finnish population: a population-based study. Scand J Public Health. 2024;52(3):360-369. doi:10.1177/14034948241235245.
- Holm ME, Skogberg N, Kiviruusu O, Sainio P. Immigrant Origin and Disability Increase Risk for Anxiety Among Youth During COVID-19: The Role of Unmet Needs for Support in Distance Learning and Family Conflicts. J Adolesc Health. 2024;74(5):916-924. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.12.006
- Bastola K, Nohynek H, Lilja E, Castaneda AE, Austero S, Kuusio H and Skogberg N. (2023) Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Factors Associated With Complete COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Migrant Origin Persons in Finland. Int J Public Health 68:1605547.
- Stenroos M, Musta L, Skogberg N. (2023) Falling off the Radar? Reaching Out to the Finnish Roma Community during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Social Sciences 12(3):183.
- Skogberg N, Castaneda AE, Agyemang C, Koponen P, Lilja E, Laatikainen T. (2022) The association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with the metabolic syndrome and its components among Russian, Somali, and Kurdish origin adults in Finland: a population-based study. J Psychosom Res 17;159:110944.
Book articles (in Finnish)
About 40 chapters in reports and compilations, e.g.:
- Castaneda AE, Skogberg N. Maahan muuttaneet. [Migrants to Finland] In: Kestilä L, Kapiainen S, Mesiäislehto M, Rissanen P (eds.) Covid-19-epidemian vaikutukset hyvinvointiin, palvelujärjestelmään ja kansantalouteen: Asiantuntija-arvio, kevät 2022. [The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on wellbeing, services, and national economy.] Report 4/2022. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Helsinki 2022.
- Seppänen A, Skogberg N, Kuusio H. Suomeen muuttaneiden terveys ja elintavat maakunnissa. [The health and wellbeing of migrants to Finland at the regional level.] Research brief 28/2021. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Helsinki 2021.
- Skogberg N, Hussein I, Castaneda A. 2020. Impact of Covid-19 human mobility restrictions on migrant origin population in Finland. In: Sirkeci I, Cohen JH (eds.) COVID-19 and Migration: Understanding Pandemic and Human Mobility. Migration Series: 23, 2020. Paperback: ISBN: 978-1-912997-59-6, Hardcover: ISBN: 978-1-912997-71-8, Digital: ISBN: 978-1-912997-60-2.
- Koukkula M, Skogberg N, Kuusio H, Jokela S, Lilja E, Klemetti R (2020). Improving data collection on female genital mutilation/cutting FGM/C in Finland. Teoksessa: The Global North and South.
- Skogberg N, Koponen P. Terveyden yhteys työssäoloon koko väestössä ja ulkomaalaistaustaisilla. [The association between health and economic activity in the general and migrant origin population in Finland.] In: Kazi V, Torkko H, Alitolppa-Niitamo A, Kaihovaara A (eds). Kotoutumisen kokonaiskatsaus 2019. [Overview of Integration in Finland 2019]. Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland. Guidelines and other publication series 2019:10.
Journal articles
- Laajasalo T, Alatalo M, Peltonen K, Lämsä R, Koivisto M, Tran N, Sibbie P, Skogberg N. ”Paljon on perheitä, jotka eivät uskalla pyytää apua”- ulkomailta tulleiden vanhempien luottamus palveluihin ja Vanhempana Suomessa -interventio perhekeskuksessa. [”There are many families who do not have the courage to ask for help” – trust of parents towards service providers and the Being a Parent in Finland at the family centers.] Yhteiskuntapolitiikka [Social policy].
- Skogberg N. Terveys on onnistuneen kotoutumisen edellytys. [Health is the pre-requisite for integration.] Sosiaalilääketieteellinen aikakauslehti [Journal of Social Medicine]. 2019;56(2):155-156.
Reports
- Kontio M, Skogberg N, Sivelä J, Nohynek H, Salo H, Mäntymaa P, Helve O. (2021) Koronarokotuskattavuuteen vaikuttavat tekijät. [Factors impacting Covid-19 vaccine uptake]. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Discussion paper 26/2021.
- Skogberg N, Koponen P, Lilja E, Austero S, Prinkey T, Castaneda AE (2021). Impact of Covid-19 on the health and wellbeing of persons who migrated to Finland: The MigCOVID Survey 2020–2021. Raportti 8/2021. Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos.
- Skogberg N, Koponen P, Lilja E, Austero S, Achame S, Castaneda A. (2021). Access to information, preventive measures and working conditions during the coronavirus epidemic : Findings of the population-based MigCOVID Survey among persons who have migrated to Finland. Discussion paper 8/2021. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
- Skogberg N, Laajasalo T. (2020). Vanhempana Suomessa - Ulkomaalaistaustaisille suunnatun psykoedukatiivisen pilottiryhmän käsikirja. [Being a Parent in Finland- a psychoeducative group pilot for migrant origin parents.] Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare publications 336:2020.
- Tiittala P; Garoff F; Ahmed Haji Omar A; Hieta P; Viuhkonen M; Skogberg N; Klemettilä Katri-Leena; Koponen P; Turunen T; Kontunen K; Snellman O; Castaneda A. (2020). Turvapaikanhakijoiden alkuterveystarkastus: Käsikirja. [A handbook for the initial health assessment of asylum seekers.] Guidelines 1/2020. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
Edited books (in Finnish)
- Skogberg N, Mustonen K-L, Koponen P, Tiittala P, Lilja E, Ahmed Haji Omar A, Snellman O, Castaneda AE, Eds. (2019). Turvapaikanhakijoiden terveys ja hyvinvointi - Tutkimus Suomeen vuonna 2018 tulleista turvapaikanhakijoista. [Asylum-seeker Health and Wellbeing – A health examination survey among asylum-seekers who have arrived in 2018.] Report 12/2019. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
Blogs
- Skogberg N, Musta, L. Building trust with accessible communications. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 14.3.2023.
- Prinkey T, Skogberg N. Covid-19 decreased physical activity among persons who migrated to Finland. (Finnish Society of Sport Sciences, 21.03.2023.
- Rask S, Skogberg N. Vastaanottokeskusten tarjottava mielekkään tekemisen mahdollisuuksia alueesta riippumatta [Reception centres should all offer opportunities for meaningful activities]. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 23.7.2019.
- Jokela S, Skogberg N, Hakulinen T. Väestön moninaistuminen näkyy neuvolatyön arjessa [Cultural diversity is present in the day-to—day work of maternity clinics]. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 26.3.2019.
- Klemettilä K-L, Skogberg N. 32 477 ainutlaatuista elämäntarinaa [32 477 unique life stories]. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 4.7.2018.
Conference presentations
- Numerous oral and poster presentation at international conferences, including the European Public Health Conference ja Biennial Conference of the European Society for Health and Medical Sociology (ESHMS), European Conference on Migrant and Ethnic Minority Health.
Honours and recognitions
- Recognition for Democracy 2021, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice and the Association of Finnish Municipalities to the Multilingual Covid-19 task force (role: lead of task force).
- Communications Award 2021, THL to Multilingual Covid-19 task force (role: lead of task force)
- Research article of the year, 2020, Finnish Dental Journal to Hepola A-M, Erkkola M, Bergman P, Skogberg N, Heimonen A.
International participation
- 2023, 2024, abstract review scientific committee, European Public Health Conference
- 2023, abstract review committee, Long-Term Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Society", Bergen, Norway, 27.10.2023.
- 2023–, HealthIntro -project steering committee, The Arctiv University of Norway
- Panelist, Saluteglobale and Geneva Global Health Hub Policy debate on migration: "Not an option! Migrants’ journey across the Mediterranean migration, 16.5.2023.
- Senior expert, WHO Europe, Action plan for refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region for 2023–2030, Larnaca, Kypros, 25–26.4.2023.
- 5th WHO Collaborating Centers on Migration and Health networking meeting Rome, Italy, 24–25.11.2022.
- Senior expert, WHO 72nd session of the Regional Committee for Europe, Tel Aviv, Israel, 12–14.9.2022.
- Invited webinar lecture, WHO Europe: “Collecting and integrating data on refugee and migrant health in Finland”, 27.1.2021.
- 2021– Nordic Health Literacy Network, Nordic Welfare Center.
- Invited lecture, 12th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health, Bergen, Norway: “The corona pandemic–what can we learn for migration as a determinant of health?”, 30.9.2021.
Affiliations
- Kaava Coaching & Consulting, owner, entrepreneur, positive psychology trainer and coach
- Pure Dining Oy, vice chair of the board
In media
Multiple newspaper interviews, for example for Yle, Helsingin Sanomat, Hufvudstadsbladet, Ilta-Sanomat, Iltalehti.
TV appearances:
- 4.12.2020. MTV3 News: Maahanmuuttaneiden koronatartunnat [Covid-19 vaccines among migrants.]
- 4.12.2020. MTV3 programme Viiden jälkeen: Koronatartuntojen määrä erityisen suuri maahanmuuttajayhteisöissä. Miksi näin on ja mitä tilanteelle voidaan tehdä? [Covid-19 infections are particularly high among migrants. Why is this and what can be done?]
- 1.12.2020. Yle A-studio program 1.12.2020: Miksi ulkomaalaistaustaisilla on enemmän koronatartuntoja? [Why do migrants have more Covid-19 infections?]
